title: Late-onset advanced heart block due to vagal nerve stimulation.
abstract: Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is widely accepted as an effective and safe therapy for refractory seizure disorders. Significant cardiac complications, such as complete heart block or symptomatic bradycardia, are extremely rare. We present a case report of a 40-year-old man with drug-resistant epilepsy, treated with VNS, who developed the late-onset (12 months after implant), stimulation-related, symptomatic advanced heart block that was initially misinterpreted for a new type of seizure. The patient was otherwise free from other stimulation-related side effects. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of late-onset advanced heart block due to VNS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schevchuck
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000628:therapy*; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D055536:Vagus Nerve Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods